Spring coiling machine



April 21, 1936. J. GoGAN 2,038,488

n `SPRING COILING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1934 s sheets-sheet 1I April 21, 1936. J. GOGAN 2,038,488

,r SPRING coILING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1954 s sheets-sheet 2.

ffmc/vars April 21,1936. l J. GQAN 2,038,488

SPRING COILING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 yPatented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l SPRING comme MACHINE y Joseph Gogan, Lakewood, Ohio Application Api-i1 27, 1984, serial Np. v'122,688

s claims. (ci. 15s-si) The presentk invention relates'to coiling machines, and more particularly to an improved spring coiling machine of the character described biles.

An object of the present inventionis the provision of a novel coiling machine particularly adapted for high production purposes, which will be rugged in construction, reliable inoperation, and which will quickly produce accurately coiled springs with a minimum amount of attention and skill on the part of the operator.

Inv accordance with the provision of the present invention wire or rod stock is fed to the machine, or guided along a rotating mandrel in predetermined timed relation to the speed of rotainvention is the provision of a novel feeding or guiding mechanism for a machine of the charac- .ter referred to, which will feed relatively heavy stock to the rotating mandrel in such a manner that the convolutions of the finished spring will be accurately spaced etc. y

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and a more complete understanding thereof may be had from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front prospective of a spring coiling machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the wire or [stock feeding mechanism illustrated in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a spring produced on the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

'I'he present invention is an improvement on the machine described and illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 712,599, filed February 23, 1934, referred to above, and similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings of both applications.

The present invention has particular application to the manufacture of relatively heavy coil springs, such as those used in the front suspension .spindle includes the mandrel 2l of some automobiles, and the preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated as a machine for manufacturing such springs in quantity production. As previously stated, anobject of the invention is the provision of a machine `which will manu- 5 facture springs of the type referred to, quickly and accurately, as it is essential to have the springs uniform and the convolutions thereof properly spaced.

Referring to the drawings, the form of the machine designated in general by the reference char` acter A comprises a bed IIJ supported on legs Il,

' I2, and I3 and an overhead member I4 supported on the bed I0 by brackets l5 and I6. I'he work, designated in general by ther reference character l5 W, is in the form of a predetermined length of hot rod or wire stock, both ends of which are tapered, see Fig. 3, so that the end convolutions of the finished spring will present flat surfaces. i In operation the hot rod is placed in the machine by an operator from the front by projecting one end of the stock between right and left hand lead screws until it rests upon a mandrel 2| yunderneath a clamp bar 22 of a chuck, designated in A general by the reference character C. With the 25 work in this position, the chuck C is actuated to clamp the end of the work W between the clamp bar 22 land the mandrel 2l.

The chuck C is carried by a shaft 26 which comprises part of the machine spindle, designated in 30 general by theA reference character B, which After the work is clamped into position the spindle is rotated by mechanism, hereinafter referred to, to coil the stock about the mandrel. During the coiling operation the free end of the work is prevented from rotating with the spindle and is fed longitudinally of the mandrel by the lead screws, which are rotated in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of the spindle. As the free end of the work leaves the lead screws it is rolled down against the mandrel 2| by a roller 24 in a manner hereinafter referred to, after which the mandrel is withdrawn and the completed spring allowed to drop through the bed of the machine.

'I'he spindle shaft 26 is rotatably supported in brackets 38 and 39, bolted or otherwise secured to the bed I0, and is drivenrfrom an electric motor 21 through a gear reduction, designated in general by the reference character 28, and the spur gears 29 and 30, the latter of which is operatively connected to the spindle shaft 26 by a friction or slip clutch of conventional construcl tion to prevent injury to the motor in the event the machine becomes jammed etc. A hand wheel Vvu nxed tothe spindle shaft 2s permits the same free end adapted to roll on a surface formed on the body portion 42. The lower or free end of the lever referred to is cylindrical and iits into a rectangular opening in an enlarged end of a rod slidably supported in a centrally located longi.

tudlnal aperture in the spindle shaft 26. Longi` tudinal reciproca-tion of the rod moves the roller over the surface on the body portion 42, thus causing the clamping bar- 22 to engage or disengage the work depending upon the direction of reciprocation. The rod referred to is reciprocated through the medium of a bar 55 projecting through an aperture therein and elongated slots in the spindle shaft. The bar 55 is connected to lugs formed integral with an annular member 58 rotatably supported on the spindle shaft 26. The annular member 58 is reciprocated vlongitudinally of the spindle shaft by a second annular member 66 held in assembled relationship therewith by a disc 62 bolted to the member 58. 'I he member 58 is adapted to rotate within themember 6|) and antifriction thrust bearings are interposed therebetween.

Projectionson opposite sides of the member 60 carry rollerswhich engage in slots formed in the upper ends of levers 68 secured to a horizontal shaft 10 rotatably supported in bosses on the bed I0. A lever 12 secured to the shaft v1|l midway between the levers 68 is operatively connected to the piston rod 14 of a uid pressure Yoperated motor, designated in general by the reference character H, the piston of which is continuously urged toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a compression spring enclosed within the cylinder. 'I'he piston is moved in the opposite direction to actuate the chuck C to clamp the work between the clamp bar 22 and mandrel 2| by iluid pressure, preferably air, admitted to the cylinder at the left of the piston by means of a pipe 81 communicating with the cylinder and a uid operated valve 86, provided with a pedal 88 by means of which the supply and discharge of air to the motor is controlled. The valve 86 is Aof conventional construction and the fluid pressure supply line is designated by the numeral 89.

The mandrel 2| is secured to a member 9| rotatably supported by-antifriction bearings in a bracket 9| slidably supported on ways 92 formed on the overhead member |4. The mandrel 2| is driven from the spindle shaft 26 through the chuck C by means of a squared end formed thereon adapted to extend through a rectangular aperture in the face plate of the clutch. The bracket 9| is reciprocated to engage and disengage the squared end of the mandrel with the .chuck C by a double acting fluid pressure actuated motor, designated in general by the reference character J, the left hand end of whichis provided with cushioned means for limiting the movement of the piston etc. toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, and taking the impact thereof. The supply of fluid pressure, preferably air, to the. motor J is controlled by a foot actuated valve I connected to the motor through the medium of pipes |2| and |22. The valve |28 is provided with a foot pedal which is depressed to connect the pipe |2| to the fluid pressure supply line 89 and the pipe |28 to exhaust and move the bracket 9| etc.

to the right. When the pedal is released the direction of the ilow ofA iluid in the pipes is reversed and the bracket 9 I' etc. moved to the left. The mandrel 2| is provided with a central longitudinal aperture through which air may be supplied for the purpose of cooling the same.

The roller 24 which rolls the end of the work W against the mandrel and presses the same against the adjacent convolutions of the spring is a part of a roller assembly designated in general by the reference character D. The rolle'r 24 vis supportedin a forked lever |5| pivotally supported on'a pin |55 xed in a bracket |56 adjustablysecured to a rectangular bar |51 supported by brackets |6|. The rear end |65 of the lever |5| is circular in shape and engages a recess in a bearing member |66 supported in a counterbore formed in a piston member |61, slidably keyed within a cylindrical or cup-shaped member |68, adjustably secured to the bar |51 along with the bracket |56. The end |65 of the lever |5| is continuously heldin contact with the bearing member |66 by a. spring member |10 supported by studs fixed in the member |61 and extending over a pin |12 secured in the lever |5|.

'I'he .piston member |61 is continuously urged in an upward direction by a compression spring |13 compressed between the member |61 and a disc |14 supported on the upper end of an adjustable tubular member |15 threaded into the bottom ofthe member |68 and locked in any adjusted position by a screw |16. The upward movement of the piston member |61, and, in

turn, the downward movement of the roller 24 is limited by a bolt |19, extending through the center of 'the member |61,V the head of which overlies a portion of the member.|61 underneath the bearing member |66. 'Ihe lower end of the bolt |19 projects through the tubular member |15 and carries a nut |8| for adjusting the upper limit o f the member |61. The roller assembly D is adjustable along the bar 51 as desired to accommodate diilerent lengt-hs of springs. The spring |18V is adjusted by means of the tubular member |15 to take care of stock of diil'erent thickness, and the distance of the roller 24 from the axis of the spindle B is adjusted by the nut |8| to accommodate both mandrels of diiferent diameters and different size stock. While the member which forces theA free end of the work against the mandrel is illustrated as .a roller 24, a non-rotatable member may be substituted therefor if desired.

The motor 21 is a reversible three-phase alternating current motor, provided with an electrically controlled brake |85 applied to one end of the armature shaft. The control box |86, see Fig. 1, houses the solenoid operated control switch for the moto-r 21, the operating solenoid of which is in series with a foot operated switch |88, the operating pedal |89 of which extends underneath the foot pedal 88 and is operated simultaneously therewith. 'Ihe operating solenoid for the brake |85, is also in series with the switch |88 and the construction is such that the brake is released when the pedal 88 is depressed. A limit switch M is provided for always' bringing the spindle B to rest at a predetermined point in the rotation thereof. The limit switch M comprises a frame supported by a member |96 attached to the bracket 38, see Fig. l, and an armature shaft |91 connected to the spindle shaft 26 by a coupling 280. A plurality of insulator discs or commutators adjustably connected to the shaft |91 carry contact segments on theclrcumference .thereof embracing about ninety-five percent of the circumference. The contact segments are connected in 'series and contact vis made'therewith by spring pressed brushes slidably supported in insulating brush holders. The limit switch M is connected in shunt circuit with the switch |88 and maintains the circuit to they operating solenoids of the brake and the switch |85, after the,pedal 88 is released until a predetermined point in the rotation of the spindle B, thus always stopping the spindle in a predetermined position. The discs o r commutators of the limit switch M are adjustable on the shaft |91 for the purpose y of permitting the spindle to be stopped at different positions. A manually operated switch in series with the limit switch permits the machine to be placed under the sole control of the switch |88.

'Ihe machine thus far described vwith the exception of the lead screws referred to, is a duplicate of that illustrated and described in the above mentioned copending application, to which reference is made for a more complete disclosure of the details of construction of the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention the wire or stock W is fed to the ma'- chlne, by or between right and left hand lead screws 2|0 and 2| respectively, rotated in predetermined timed relation to the rotation of the spindle B, in the direction indicated, see Fig. 3. The left hand end of the feed screw 2| is bolted to a disc' 2|2 detachably keyed to a disc member 2|3 xed to one end of a stud shaft 2|4. The

shaft 2|4 is rotatably supported by a bracket 2|5 secured to the member 39 and carries a gear 2 I6 in mesh with a gear 2 1 on the chuck C, by means of which the lead screw is driven. The right hand end of the lead screw 2|| is slidably keyed to an annular member 228 detachably keyed to a disc member 22| fixed to one end of a stud shaft 222 rotatably supported by a bracket 223. Sufficient clearance is provided to permit replacement of the lead screw 2| and the ,members 2|2 and 228 as a unit without disturbing the bearings or brackets 2| 5 and 223.

The lead screw 2||l is detachably connected to stud shafts 230 and 23| in a manner similar to that in which the lead screw 2| is connected to the stud shafts 2|4 and 222. The stud shafts 230 and 23| are rotatably supported in brackets 232 and 233, respectively, keyed to a shaft 235 rotatably supported in the brackets 2| 5 and 223. "I'he lead screw 2|0 is driven from the gear 2|6 previously referred to through the medium of an idler gear 236 or a stud shaft 231 fixed in the bracket 2|5, a double faced idler gear 238 rotatably supported on the shaft 235, and a gear 239 fixed to the end of the stud shaft 230. The bracket 233 is in the form of a bell `crank lever and the lower end 240 thereof is operatively connected, by means of a link 24|, to a piston rod 242 of a fluid pressure motor designated in general-by the reference character P.

The piston 245 of the motor P is continuously urged toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, by a compression spring 246, and the movement of the piston in the opposite direction under the influence of uid pressure admitted by a pipe 241 is limited by an adjustable stop 248 which engages a downwardly extending projection 249 on the piston rod 242. 'Ihe pipe 241 is connected to the pipes 81 and the supply of fluid pressure to and from the motor P is under the control of the foot operated valve 86. Actuation ofthe motor P produces rotation or oscillation of the shaft 235 bottom of the machine.

which in turn moves the lead screw 2|| to and from the lead screw 2|8. When the motorP is unenergized the parts are in the position shown in dotted une m Fig. 4, with the lead screw 2m the mandrel underneath thefclamp bar 22, with the flat face adjacent the face plate of the clutch. The foot pedal 88 is depressed to actuate the motor H to clamp the end of the work between the clamp bar 22 and the mandrel 2| and the motor P is actuated to move the lead screw 2||l into its upper or closed position. As the foot pedal 88 -is depressed the pedal |89 is depressed simultaneously therewith, releasing the brake |85 and starting the motor 21.

As the wire is coiled about the mandrel 2| the same is guided and fed lengthwise thereof by the feed screws 2|0 and 2|| in such a manner that there will be no variation in the finished spring. As the end of the coil is approached the work engages underneath the roller 24 which rolls the free end of the work against the mandrel and presses the last convolution against the one adjacent thereto, thus gauging the length of the spring etc. After the coil has been formed the foot pedals 88 and |89 are released, thespindle B comes to stop in a predetermined position, which in the present illustration is with the clamp bar 22 on top, and the lead screw 2|0 drops down to its lower position under the action of the spring 246. The foot pedal |25 is then depressed actuating the motor J to move the slide 9| and the mandrel 2| to the right, stripping the spring from the mandrel and allowing it to drop through the When the foot pedal 25 is released the slide 9| and mandrel 2| are returned to their initial position and the machine is ready for the next operation.

'I'he machine shown is set up for making right hand springs, but is capable of making left hand springs by merely reversing the direction of rotation of themotor 21, moving the brackets 2|5 and 223 until the top of the lead screw 2|0 is approximately even with the bottom of the mandrel 2|, and adjusting the limit switch M so that the spindle will stop with the clamp bar 22 underneath the mandrel.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has produced a new and improved machine for making springs, etc. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been ilustrated and described, I do not wish to be limited to the construction shown, which may be varied within the scope of the invention, and I particularly point out and claim as my invention the following.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a member adapted to have stock coiled thereabout to form a helical coil rotatably supported by said member, means for rotating said member, and a plurality of lead screws spaced radially of said member for feeding the stock longitudinally of said member.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a member adapted to have stock coiled thereabout to forma helical 3..Inacoilingmachineoithecharacterde scribed, the combination of a frame, a mandrel rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said mandrel, 'a plurality of lead 'screws rotatably supported by said frame adapted to have work fed therebetween, said lead screws being spaced radially of the axis oi' rotation of said mandrel, and means for rotating said lead screws.

4. In a 'coiiing machine of the character derotatably aippor'tea by am fram' adapted to have work fed therebetween, said lead screws being spacedradiallyttbea'x'isot rotation ofsaid mandrel andprovided with right and left hand helical grooves adapted to enable the work, and

means for rotating said lead screws in predeter-v mined timed relation to the rotation of said mandrel and in opposite directions to ea'ch other.

6. In a coilingmachine oi!v the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said mandrel, a lead screw rotatably supported by said frame parallel with said mandrel.

'said lead screw being provided with a right hand.

helical groove adapted to engage one side of the work as it is ted to the machine. means for rotatscribed, the combination of a frame, a mandrel\\ing said lead screw in'a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the mandrel, a second lead f screw rotatably supported bysaid framewparallel rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said mandrel, a plurality of lead screws rotatably supported by said frame adapted to have work fed therebetween, said lead screws being spaced radially of the axis of rotation of said I vmandrel, means for producing relative movement Y 1 between said lead screws to facilitate the positioning of work therebetween, and means for rorelation to the rotation of said mandrel.

Y 5. In a coiling machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a mandrel rotatably supported by said frame, means for rotating said mandrel. a plurality of lead screws with said mandrel and spaced from the ilrst men# mandrel, said second lead screw being provided with a left handhelical groove adapted to engage the sideof the work opposite to that engaged by tioned lead screw radially with reference to said the first mentioned lead screw, means for rotattatlng said lead screws in predetermined timed ing said second lead screw in the same direction as the rotation of said mandrel, and means for moving said second lead screw bodily towards and JOSEPH GOGAN. 

